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A+ Certification Exam Notes : Hardware

3.1 basic cable types and their connectors, features, and purposes

Network cables

Network cables are used to connect devices in a computer network. Here are the basic types of network cables along with their connectors, features, and purposes:

1. Copper Cables: Copper cables are used to transmit electrical signals between devices. They are of the following types:

  • 1. Cat 5: This is an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable that has a maximum data transfer rate of 100 Mbps. It has an RJ-45 connector.

  • 2. Cat 5e: This is an improved version of the Cat 5 cable with a maximum data transfer rate of 1 Gbps. It also has an RJ-45 connector.

  • 3. Cat 6: This cable has a maximum data transfer rate of 10 Gbps and has an RJ-45 connector.

  • 4. Cat 6a: This cable is an improved version of the Cat 6 cable with a maximum data transfer rate of 10 Gbps. It also has an RJ-45 connector.

  • 5. Coaxial: This cable has a copper core surrounded by a layer of insulation, a braided shield, and an outer jacket. It is used to transmit high-frequency electrical signals with low loss. f

  • 6. Shielded twisted pair: This cable has a shielded jacket that provides protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio-frequency interference (RFI). It has an RJ-45 connector.

    • 1. Direct burial: This cable is designed to be buried underground and has a special outer jacket that provides protection against moisture and soil acidity.

  • 7. Unshielded twisted pair: This cable has no shielded jacket and is the most commonly used copper cable. It has an RJ-45 connector.

  • 8. Plenum: This is a type of cable that is used in air handling spaces like those found in buildings. It has low-smoke and low-toxicity properties.

2. Optical Fiber Cables: Optical fiber cables use light to transmit data. They are of the following types:

  • 1. Fiber: This cable consists of a glass or plastic core surrounded by cladding, buffer, and an outer jacket. It is used to transmit data over long distances.

  • 2. T568A/T568B: These are the two wiring standards used to terminate the wires in a network cable. T568A is commonly used in government installations, while T568B is used in commercial installations.

3. Peripheral cables

  • USB 2.0: A widely used standard for connecting peripherals like keyboards, mice, printers, and external hard drives to a computer or other device. It has a data transfer rate of up to 480 Mbps and is backwards compatible with USB 1.1.

  • USB 3.0: A newer standard that provides faster data transfer rates of up to 5 Gbps and is backwards compatible with USB 2.0. It's commonly used for external hard drives, video cameras, and other high-bandwidth devices.

  • Serial: A legacy standard for connecting devices like modems, printers, and mice to a computer. It's been largely replaced by USB, but is still used for some specialized equipment.

  • Thunderbolt: A high-speed interface primarily used for connecting peripherals to Apple Macs, providing a high data transfer rate and the ability to daisy-chain multiple devices.

4. Video Cables:

  • HDMI: A popular digital interface used to transmit high-definition video and audio signals between devices, such as a computer and a TV. It can transmit both audio and video in a single cable, and supports resolutions up to 4K.

  • DisplayPort: Another digital interface that's commonly used to connect a computer to a monitor or other display device. It supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI, and can also transmit audio.

  • DVI: A legacy interface used primarily for connecting a computer to a monitor. It supports high resolutions and is available in both analog and digital versions, but is being phased out in favor of HDMI and DisplayPort.

  • VGA: A very old analog interface that's still in use, primarily for connecting older computers to monitors or projectors. It has lower resolution and less reliable signal quality than digital interfaces like HDMI and DisplayPort.

5. Hard drive cables

  • Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA): SATA is the current standard for connecting internal hard drives to a computer's motherboard. It features a small, thin connector and supports faster data transfer rates than older technologies.

  • Small Computer System Interface (SCSI): SCSI is an older technology for connecting hard drives to a computer. It uses a larger, more complex connector and supports higher data transfer rates than IDE, but has been largely replaced by SATA.

  • External SATA (eSATA): eSATA is a version of SATA designed for use with external hard drives. It uses the same connector as internal SATA but provides higher data transfer rates than USB or FireWire.

  • Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE): IDE is an older technology for connecting internal hard drives to a computer's motherboard. It uses a wide ribbon cable with a large, rectangular connector and has been largely replaced by SATA.


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